Heavy Metal Meets Tactical Shooters: Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes Joins Forces with Spiritbox and Grabbitz for the VCT Champions 2026 Anthem

By Craig Robinson
Senior Editor, Esports News UK
Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Executive Overview

The worlds of high-octane esports and heavy alternative music are set to collide in spectacular fashion once again. Riot Games has officially announced that Oliver Sykes—the iconic frontman of British metalcore giants Bring Me The Horizon—will make his historic debut in the Riot Music universe. Sykes is headlining the official VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 anthem, titled "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight."

The blockbuster single brings together an elite trio of musical powerhouses. Sykes is joined by Courtney LaPlante, the magnetic frontwoman of modern metal favorites Spiritbox, and visionary electronic producer Grabbitz, who both wrote and produced the track. Set for global release this autumn across all major streaming platforms, the anthem will serve as the auditory centerpiece for the VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 Finals.

This collaboration continues Riot Games’ long-standing tradition of bridging the gap between competitive gaming and stadium-sized rock music. However, by pulling directly from the bleeding edge of modern heavy metal, Riot is signaling a deliberate shift toward heavier, more aggressive sonic landscapes for its premier tactical shooter. As the countdown to the Shanghai finals begins, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch across both the esports and music communities.

Detailed Chronology: The Anatomy of a Heavyweight Collaboration

To understand the magnitude of "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," one must look at the individual trajectories of the creators involved and how their paths converged under the banner of Riot Games.

The Architect: Grabbitz’s Continuing Legacy with Riot Games

For producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Grabbitz (Nick Rossi), this release marks his fourth major collaboration within the VALORANT ecosystem—a testament to his unique ability to marry electronic music production with gritty, rock-infused aesthetics. Grabbitz’s history with Riot Games is a cornerstone of the tactical shooter’s musical identity:

• 2021: Released the massive hit "Die for You," which became an instant classic among the VALORANT community.
• 2022: Produced "Fire Again," performed by alternative pop artist Ashnikko.
• 2023: Teamed up with rapper bbno$ for the fan-favorite anthem "Ticking Away."

Collectively, Grabbitz’s previous contributions to the franchise have amassed over 350 million streams worldwide. With "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," Grabbitz took on the heavy burden of writing and producing a track capable of satisfying millions of gamers while honoring the distinct artistic identities of two heavy metal icons.

Bringing in Heavyweight Royalty: Oli Sykes and Courtney LaPlante

While Grabbitz provided the framework, the addition of Oli Sykes and Courtney LaPlante elevates the track into unprecedented territory.

For Sykes, this project marks his very first formal interaction with Riot Games and the VALORANT IP. As the driving creative force behind Bring Me The Horizon, Sykes has spent the better part of two decades redefining what modern heavy music can be, seamlessly blending elements of metalcore, electronica, pop-punk, and industrial music.

Meanwhile, Courtney LaPlante is no stranger to the Riot Games universe. Her previous collaboration with the developer—contributing to 2XKO, Riot’s upcoming tag-team fighting game—cemented her status as a natural fit for gaming crossovers. Furthermore, LaPlante and Sykes share a deep professional history; Spiritbox has frequently supported Bring Me The Horizon on tour, with LaPlante frequently joining Sykes on stage for live performances. "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" represents the first time their creative synergy has been permanently captured in a studio recording.

Supporting Context & Metrics: The Intersection of Esports and Stadium Rock

Riot Games has long understood that the cultural footprint of competitive esports extends far beyond the server. From the earliest days of League of Legends championships to the global expansion of VALORANT, music has functioned as the emotional heartbeat of Riot’s esports ecosystem.

A History of A-List Crossovers

Riot’s commitment to high-profile musical collaborations is well-documented. Over the past decade, the developer has consistently enlisted world-renowned rock and alternative acts to soundtrack its most prestigious tournaments:

• Imagine Dragons: Cemented esports anthem culture with "Warriors" for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship, later returning to soundtrack the hit Netflix animated series Arcane with "Enemy."
• Linkin Park: Recently reunited with a new lineup, the legendary rock band has historically dominated sports and gaming crossovers, setting a blueprint that modern heavy bands continue to follow.
• Against The Current: Delivered pulse-pounding anthems that defined early international tournaments.
• Lil Nas X: Proved that genre boundaries mean nothing in esports by spearheading completely different stylistic crossovers for Worlds.

Streaming Power and Global Reach

The financial and cultural impact of these anthems cannot be overstated. With Grabbitz’s past three VALORANT tracks alone pulling in upwards of 350 million streams, Riot Games operates essentially as a major record label disguised as a video game developer. By injecting Bring Me The Horizon and Spiritbox into the VALORANT Champions 2026 campaign, Riot is tapping into a rabid, globally distributed metalcore fanbase that bridges the gap between traditional rock enthusiasts and digital natives.

The strategy is clear: position VALORANT Champions Shanghai not just as a tournament, but as a premier cultural event where elite gaming meets mainstream music festival energy.

Official Statements from the Artists

The creative minds behind "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" sat down to share their insights on the creative process, mutual respect, and what it means to enter the VALORANT universe.

Courtney LaPlante shared her excitement about the long-awaited studio partnership:

"I cannot wait to release this song! Oli has given me the opportunity to perform live with BMTH many times over the years, and we’re finally debuting something we worked on together. Grabbitz produced such a great atmosphere and a song tailored to all three of our voices, and Oli went in right away and made it a true collaboration."

Oli Sykes reflected on the natural alignment between his artistic style and the world of gaming:

"I’ve always been drawn to projects that blur the lines between storytelling and music, so working with Riot Games, alongside Grabbitz and Courtney, and becoming part of the VALORANT World felt like a really natural fit."

Grabbitz, speaking on the structural evolution of the track, praised the seamless blending of diverse musical backgrounds:

Describing the project as potentially the best VALORANT anthem to date, Grabbitz noted that the three artists came from entirely different corners of the globe and successfully landed on something that sits comfortably between his cutting-edge electronic production world and the heavier, atmospheric landscapes commanded by both BMTH and Spiritbox.

Future Outlook: VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026

As the music video and single prepare for global release this autumn, all eyes turn toward the grand stage: the VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 Finals.

Scheduled to run from September 24th to October 18th, 2026, the tournament will gather the top 16 tactical shooter teams from across the globe in Shanghai, China. These elite squads will battle through intense brackets for the most prestigious trophy in the sport, with "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" serving as the backdrop for every high-stakes clutch, elimination, and championship-lifting moment.

For fans of both heavy music and competitive gaming, this autumn promises an unforgettable sensory experience. Whether you are screaming along to Sykes’ crushing vocals in an arena or watching the broadcast from home, the message is unmistakable: the walls separating esports and mainstream music have officially been torn down, and the soundtrack to VALORANT has never sounded heavier.